Everything is groovy so far. The SdKfz 222 and the Karl are both great. They've already paid rent for a space in the OPDs folder -just need to move in. My apologies for not getting to it all sooner. I'm lucky to have friends who are on the same wavelength w/ the project, and who are so willing to give their time to cranking out these ideas. Probably I don't show enough appreciation by doing my noodling little touch ups right away.

Love the little sun shade! And the feet are absolutely awesome! This would have no trouble in deep sand at all! All it has to do to loose an enemy is take it into soft sand. I take it those are grenade launchers on the sides of the cowling?

probably true! I really should try to work that scenario in somehow. The idea of a recon mech vs. camels is too funny. Good old meat power vs. machine power.

Actually, I have read that horses and other beasts of burden were heavily used by Germany in the early blitzkrieg years. Which implies that, in truth, the blitz was not as fully mechanized as strategic theory implies.

It wasn't. And the US used mules too. Especially in Italy. They were way better at transporting ammo and supplies up and down mountains than trucks were.

And if I remember rightly, I think I've seen pictures of Germans using horses to pull light artillery pieces. I think on the Russian front too if memory serves.

And it makes sense too. Mules don't break down as often as machines do. (with some care) and it'd be easier to find fodder for them in the spring and summer than to find fuel or have parts shipped all the way from Germany. And they can be commandeered along the way too. Whereas if they grab a Russian machine, the logistics of repair become a nightmare because of a lack of parts.

So, both sides were still using animals. And I think the US Navy SEALS used them in Afghanistan as well.

They haven't perfected the "big dog" robot yet for field use as a pack mule.

the fact that mules were used in Italy, specifically to deal w/ rough terrain seems to be another mark in favor machines w/ legs. Tho a mule can still probably go many places that even the most agile mech cannot. And as an added bonus, if things get really desperate.. you can always eat your pack animals!

I'm anxious to see how this big dog program turns out. Reminds me a lot of that wolf mech from MGS4... could be that the first legit miliatry mechs to see service will be 4 legged.

Yeah, you can eat the mules, though you about have to shoot the mule skinner to do it! LOL

And yeah, it is kind of interesting. And I'd thing 4-6 legged would be probable. In fact, I think this company volunteered robots to help investigate the Japanese nuclear plants that were destroyed in the big quake and tsunami. I don't know if they used the "big dog" or not. They're also working on a "Cheetah" robot that can outrun a human.[link]

Not sure all this is good ideal, but, there it is. They're building Terminators and Ravage from the freaking Transformers cartoons LOL

Though I was thinking maybe some frag grenades for anti-infantry might be handy. Even with all the heavy metal stomping around, you still have to worry about the PBIs tossing a fire bomb on you....from a galloping camel. (though I suppose that would make them calvary or mounted infantry, technically)Also, a few frag and HE grenades would work wonders if they came to a road block manned by infantry on a mountain road or in a gorge. Just thinking out loud.

I wasn't thinking it was designed to go toe to toe with even a medium mech. Especially not with the open top!

Man, one well-placed hand grenade would be brutal! Or even a simple fire bomb.

I fully intend to explore the possibilities of very bold infantry tactics totally neutralizing mech forces.In action, it's be a little like Motoko Kusanagi fighting that spider mech at the end of GIS... but w/ better results!

If you can find them, try and find Battletech books! Specifically the Grey Death Legion series by Michael Stackpole.

The leader of the Grey Death had lots of innovative means of using infantry against mecha. Especially Mercenary's Star where he was fighting a guerrilla war against superior forces is good. (you may have to search in a used book store to find it) Well worth it though! They're some of my favorite military sci-fi books

Yeah, in that environment all a roof would do would be hold the heat from the metal in the machine.

Yep, the mobility thing is true of all lightly armored machines in a heavy armor environment.

I don't know if this is relevant, but, I'll thrown it out for future consideration. I had a friend who was a fanatical Mecwarrior3 fan. He preferred a Puma (fastest machine in the game) and put an AC-20 on it (heaviest auto-cannon in the game) But, to do that he had to take off ALL the armor. He got hit once, he was done, but, his tactics were to run up to the enemy at high speed and knock them over with the cannon, then run like hell while dodging like mad. Don't know if that would fit into your game scenario, but, I thought I'd throw it in case you could use it.

Your buddies Puma sounds very much like a tank destroyer in terms of tactical utility. In ODPS, those are the exact tactics I'd apply to the light "mech destroyers". And even more modest vehicles, which will be just open-topped gun platforms w/ legs. One of my watchers suggested that cool idea. Perhaps it was you?

Actually, not so different from the tactics of Sherman crews either. Since their guns were fucking useless in a head on assault against Tigers and Panthers. -circle around fast as possible and attack the side or rear armor. But this is also a lot easier for tanks w/ turrets and mechs w/ high agility + waist rotation. Mechs and mech destroyers would be at a disadvantage flanking at close range. But then they'd have bigger guns, making long range engagement easier.